8-bit II: Computer Art from the 1980s (2025)

The 1980s was a very important time in the development of computer art. While artists had been using computers to create art since the 1960s, the 1980s was the first time that would-be artists could visit the high street and purchase a “micro-computer” capable of producing computer graphics and sound at an affordable price.

While not intentionally created for use by artists, computers such as the Sinclair ZX Spectrum,  BBC Micro, Commodore 64 and Apple II enabled people who may never have used a computer before to learn to program and create their own images and computer artworks.  Ironically, however, this accessibility has resulted in relatively poor preservation of the artworks created in the era. The flourishing of bespoke operating systems, somewhat unreliable storage media and cheap, but poor-quality, printers now means that original 1980s home computer artworks are hard to come by – certainly those made by artists who are not already in the accepted canon of computer and digital art history.

The Computer Arts Archive began to explore this area in 2020, starting with an exhibition at Leicester’s LCB Depot comprising work from the Micro Arts Group project by Geoff Davis from the mid-1980s. Geoff created artwork on the ZX Spectrum and brought together a group of like-minded artists (including Martin Rootes, who worked on the BBC Micro) to help share their creations. He produced a paper magazine and a series of Micro Arts (MA) cassettes – the preferred way of distributing software at the time.

An important aspect of Geoff’s work was that he had kept the original software in a runnable form and had maintained a personal archive of his materials from the era. Similarly, Dan Cooper, a US artist who developed an interest in making computer artwork in the 1980s using software and the Apple II, also maintained a personal archive with runnable software. As an established artist at the time, Dan’s work drew on his extensive creative background and will be the subject of a future solo show of work by the Computer Arts Archive.

This latest exhibition is partnership with the Computer Arts Society brings together artworks by Dan Cooper, Geoff Davis and Martin Rootes in a single show that both recognises the significance of the artwork from the era and launches a unique 1980s 8-bit art collection.

If you are an artist who was creating original artwork on 8-bit computers in the 1980s, please contact Computer Arts Archive who are interested in including more 1980s artwork in future events and exhibitions. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with Sean Clark, Computer Arts Archive curator at [email protected].

This exhibition was organised by the Computer Arts Archive in collaboration with Interact Digital Arts and the Computer Arts Society.